1) Those Present: Laurence Gandy (CVS), Pat Still (Advocacy and QED Health Group), Ian Hammerton (Chair Biodiversity), Isobel Perry (KWW), Richard Wiltshire (Chair QED Allotments), Paul Smith (Chair QED Waste Management), Alan Cremer (DBC, Secretary), Phil Kessel (DBC).
2) Apologies for Absence: Pat Martin, Alan Thrussel, Keith Wyncoll. (In the absence of John Gunn Isobel Perry assumed the Chair).
3) Matters Arising from the Minutes:
a) Laurence Gandy up-dated the meeting on the Single Regeneration Budget Bid and other funding bids. There is as yet no information regarding the lottery bid.
b) Phil Kessel reported that with the arrival of Dartford Borough Council's Environmental Technician the QED electric van would now be in constant use.
c) Phil Kessel reported that the matter of the QED Year Planner is currently in abeyance as we are waiting for the publishers to assign new staff.
d) The Group was reminded that Agenda items for the AGM are required.
4) Accounts: Phil Kessel reported that there is £198 (after allowing a commitment of £200 for Youth Action Group) left in the 1997 budget. It was agreed that QED will contribute any unspent money toward the printing cost of the Environmental Audit documents as this will give the Group some proprietorial rights.
The Group agreed that it would like more QED stickers printed.
The Secretary reported that the leaflet carousels from the old Tourist Office have been secured but are awaiting the availability of transport.
5) Publicity: The Secretary reported that publicity in the local press and Dartford News has improved considerably since the last meeting. DBC's PR department is establishing a regular QED column in the Informer.
Richard Wiltshire reported that the QED web-site on the Internet is now up and running. He requested regular input from Chairs of groups. The News Page will be up-dated weekly and may include a photograph. He requested that previous Minutes and other QED information be placed on floppy discs so that it may easily be loaded into the web-site. The thanks of the Group were conveyed to Richard for his efforts. Richard agreed to continue servicing this programme but to monitor the work-load in case it becomes too demanding.
Isobel Perry requested an article to be offered to Network 21. The Secretary reported that he had submitted an article already, and Richard Wiltshire agreed to write an article on the Darenth Country Park Project. These articles can include graphics.
6) Frequency of Steering Group Meetings: After discussion it was agreed that the Group should meet at approximately 6 week intervals in future.
7) Facilitators: The group discussed Isobel Perry's paper on possible facilitators for QED It was agreed that for the moment this matter will remain in abeyance and the option for hiring a Consultant in the future should remain open.
Laurence Gandy has done some training for the Youth Group on Committee structuring etc. Isobel Perry reported that more training is planned with Paul Baron.
8) Group Reports: These were accepted by the Group as reported in the Minutes with the following additions:
The Youth Group sleep-out is now planned for July 10th. Dartford Borough Council is very anxious to extend its current system of Neighbourhood Fora to include a Youth Forum. Phil Kessel assured the Group that this in no way poses a threat to the QED Youth Group but that it is very important for them to have input and participation.
The Biodiversity Group has been approached by Richard Wiltshire to survey the flora and fauna in Darenth Country Park. This is being undertaken under the leadership of Tony Morris.
The Group's initial terms of reference are yet to be finalised.
The Allotments Group reported that its third Newsletter is now ready for publication.
Julie Morton attended the Newtown Town Forum as reported in the press.
9). Darenth Country Park QED Project: Richard Wiltshire tabled a current position paper. An hydraulic engineer is currently surveying the plan with a view to costing the most important part of capital expenditure which is the provision of a water supply.
Much information has been gathered, especially from the Internet, about the possible symbiosis of horses and bees kept in the same vicinity.
The trip to Kent House Allotments on March 23rd has been well supported.
Richard is to attend the Community Gardening Conference in Bristol.
He reported the Council's anxiety that the scheme should be part of our Millenium Provision. Should a deadline of the year 2000 be placed upon certain projects it is almost certain that the cost will rise.
It was agreed to seek information regarding the possible future of the site after the lease expires. (Could it possibly be used for housing?)
10) Groundwork Community Action Network and QED: It was agreed that someone from GCAN be invited to meet the Steering Group to discuss the possible relationship between them and QED.
11) Dartford Festival 1998: After further contact with the "Green Circus" it was agreed that the QED exhibits should try to concentrate as much as possible on local interests and issues.
Isobel Perry reported that she has contacted the Emma Reynolds Dance Group with a possible view to them choreographing a "Local Agenda 21" dance for the Festival.
The date of the next meeting was set for May 5th. 1998 at 2.30 p.m. at Enterprise House.
END: Return to the QED Steering Group page.